Les Cowboys Fringants won their first career Juno Award and Charlotte Cardin added one to her collection during the opening night of the annual Canadian Music Festival on Saturday evening in Halifax.
• Read also: “I’m starting to write”: Charlotte Cardin is already preparing her 3e album
The Quebec star won the Juno for pop album of the year for his 99 Nightslaunching in August 2023. Even though she had won four in 2022, Charlotte Cardin was just as excited when she heard her name.
“My heart dropped for a second. It’s a great recognition, you don’t get used to winning prizes. I want to win them all,” Charlotte Cardin said with a laugh, during an interview with THE Newspaper after his victory.
Two for Tate McRae
However, it was new pop star Tate McRae who stole the show.
Absent in Halifax, the young pop singer from Alberta won the prestigious Junos for artist of the year and song of the year, for her success Greedytwo categories where Charlotte Cardin was in the running.
The interpreter of Confetti also lost the award for songwriter of the year to indigenous artist Aysanabee.
Sunday evening, during the televised gala, which will be hosted by Nelly Furtado, Charlotte Cardin will be in the running for two other awards: Fans’ Choice, a Juno submitted to popular vote, and Album of the Year.
Finally for The Cowboys
Surprisingly, it took almost 25 years for the most popular Quebec group of its generation to attract the attention of the Junos.
Four months after the death of Karl Tremblay, Les Cowboys Fringants received their first Juno, that of Francophone Album of the Year, for their disc in concert with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (under the direction of Simon Leclerc).
Bassist Jérôme Dupras represented Les Cowboys, who had been nominated for the albums Union break And The Antipodes in the past, in Halifax.
“I’m very happy. I wrote to the others earlier, and they were super flattered that we were recognized at the Junos. It’s a nice pat on the back that we take with humility.”
Now, when will the new Cowboys Fringants album be released? “It should follow normal production steps, I can’t give an exact date, but it will be in the next few weeks. It is completed.”
Touch hearts
Quebecers Dominique Fils-Aimé, Elisapie, Allison Russell, Blond:ish, Cryptopsy, Christine Jensen, the Montreal Classic Orchestra, Constantinople, Nicole Lizée and the team behind the album’s graphics Symphonic Riopelle were also rewarded.
“Winning a Juno is a seal of approval that opens doors. It seems that this is of more interest to the industry, whether in Europe or in the United States. It allowed us to explore new territories,” says Dominique Fils-Aimé, winner of the Juno for Pop Vocal Album of the Year for the second time in five years with Our Roots Run Deep.
Crowned Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year, Elisapie never thought thatInuktituthis album of covers of pop-rock classics from the 1980s and 1990s, would touch just as many hearts.
“People are very emotional,” she said. “It’s like they can relive their childhood and it’s also a window into a very ancient culture. I believe this mixture allows me to touch […] many people. That’s always my goal anyway. I want to talk to them.”